MODELS OF MICELLE FORMATION

We have tested the predictions of four thermodynamic models of micelle formation against experimental enthalpies of micelle formation of mod el surfactants across a range of temperatures. The mass action (MA) ap proach agrees best with experimental observations. The change in therm odynamic parameters of micelle formation with temperature has been int erpreted according to a two-step model of hydrogen bonds in water. Thi s model explains the trends correctly but is open to criticism regardi ng the choice of parameters. We give a brief review of our own compute r simulations of self-assembly which suggest that non-hydrogen-bonded liquids are solvents in which self-assembly can take place too. Other experimental evidence lends support to the conclusion that a sufficien tly large difference between the solvent and solute cohesiveness param eters is enough for self-assembly to occur in a solvent.